June 6: The Injury That Led to God

As a boy, Daniel Murphy started playing baseball through the process of elimination.  He was too short for basketball, too slow for soccer, and because he didn’t like to get hit, forget about football.  Baseball, however, was a game for which he had a gift.

Murphy was drafted by the New York Mets in 2006, and made his Major League debut two years later.  The year 2011 was shaping up to be his best season to date.  Then it happened.  Again.

A knee injury ended his season early for the second time in two years.  At first, Murphy understandably felt depressed about his bad luck.  Then, God stepped in.

Though Murphy was raised in a Christian family, he admits he didn’t give much thought to his faith.  The injury changed his perspective.  As he explained on Christopher Closeup, “There were moments that led to me surrendering to the Lord.  After that, I don’t want to say everything was easy, but there was a peace and joy I never experienced before…The Lord had knocked me on my back a number of times, and I had not answered.  This time I finally decided to submit and give everything to Him.”

Submit yourselves therefore to God. (James 4:7)

Help me choose Your will, Lord, instead of my own.